From Devendra Fadnavis To Rajnath Singh: 11 Politicians Who Escaped Plane And Helicopter Mishaps

At 8:46:02 am on Wednesday, a sudden flash of fire followed by thick smoke was captured on a CCTV camera installed along a highway near Baramati airport in Maharashtra. Moments earlier, a private aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others had crashed.

The 66-year-old leader lost his life in the accident. The highway camera recorded the exact moment when the Learjet 45 burst into flames after impact. The chartered aircraft had taken off from Mumbai at around 8:10 am and went down while attempting to land near Baramati.

Following the tragic incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences and called for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the crash.

"There is no safety or security in this country, not even for political leaders," Banerjee said. "I do not know what stand other opposition parties are taking, but a few days ago I saw reports on social media claiming that someone from another party had said Ajit Pawar was willing to leave the BJP. And now, what has happened today? This demands a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We trust only the Supreme Court and no other agency, as all agencies have been fully compromised. This is a great loss for the nation."

Amid the shock and grief surrounding the incident, attention has once again turned to other political leaders who narrowly escaped similar plane and helicopter accidents in the past, reminding many of how thin the line between survival and tragedy can be.

Morarji Desai's Close Call in 1977

One of the most dramatic survival stories dates back to November 4, 1977, when then Prime Minister Morarji Desai was involved in a severe aircraft accident.

Late at night, around 8 pm, the plane carrying Desai met with an accident while approaching the runway. In the darkness, the aircraft struck a large tree branch, which caused it to lose one wing and its engine mid-air. The crash that followed appeared almost impossible to survive.

What worked in favour of the passengers was the surrounding terrain. The aircraft came down over a thick bamboo grove, and the rain-soaked, soft ground reduced the force of the impact. While the cockpit and front portion were badly crushed, the rear cabin remained mostly intact.

Initially, there was uncertainty about the crew's condition, given the extent of damage. However, Morarji Desai and others on board survived, making it one of the most remarkable aviation escapes involving a political leader.

Ahmed Patel, Prithviraj Chavan and Kumari Selja Escape in 2004

In 2004, senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Prithviraj Chavan, and Kumari Selja were involved in an aircraft accident during travel.

Despite the seriousness of the crash, all three leaders managed to come out alive. They were given immediate medical attention as a precaution and were later declared safe.
The incident caused widespread concern, but their survival brought relief to party colleagues and supporters across the country.

Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa's Survival in 2005

A year later, in 2005, Punjab leaders Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa faced a similar scare.

The aircraft they were travelling in met with an accident, raising fears of a major tragedy. Fortunately, both leaders survived without fatal injuries. Medical teams attended to them, and they were found to be stable.

The incident once again highlighted the unpredictability of air travel, even during routine political journeys.

Sukhwinder Singh Badal's Helicopter Mishap

Former Punjab Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Badal was involved in a helicopter incident during official travel.

The helicopter developed a technical problem mid-journey, forcing an emergency situation. Thanks to timely action by the pilot, a safe landing was made, and Badal escaped without injury.

Rajnath Singh and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's Narrow Escape

In 2008, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were involved in a frightening helicopter incident in Uttar Pradesh.

While attempting to land in an open field, the helicopter came down near a large pile of dry grass. Heat from the aircraft caused the grass to catch fire almost instantly. The situation turned dangerous within seconds.

Quick reactions from the crew prevented injuries, and both leaders were safely moved away from the site.

Ashok Gehlot's Emergency Helicopter Landing

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot survived a serious helicopter emergency in 2011.

While flying between cities in Rajasthan, the helicopter began experiencing severe vibrations due to a technical fault. One of the rotor blades had gone out of alignment mid-air, creating a highly risky situation.

The pilot made an emergency landing, avoiding a potential disaster. Gehlot was unharmed, but the incident raised serious concerns about helicopter safety.

Devendra Fadnavis' Series of Aviation Escapes

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is known for surviving multiple aviation incidents in a single year, earning him a reputation for extraordinary luck.

In 2017, he faced several helicopter-related scares, the most serious being a crash during takeoff in the Latur region. The helicopter became entangled in overhead power lines and fell from a significant height. Despite the severity, Fadnavis and others walked away with only minor injuries.

Other incidents included emergency landings due to engine trouble, weight imbalance, and near misses involving helicopter rotors and cables. In each case, quick pilot decisions prevented loss of life.

Following these incidents, stricter safety rules and procedures were later introduced for VVIP air travel in Maharashtra.

When Survival Becomes Part of Political History

These incidents show that even senior leaders are not immune to danger. In many cases, quick thinking by pilots, favourable terrain, and sheer luck made the difference between life and death.

For the politicians who survived, these moments became defining experiences-often changing how safety, travel, and risk are viewed in public life. For the public, such stories serve as reminders of the fragile line between routine travel and tragedy.